Sisters' dogs score well nationally, among top in state

Two Dalmatians and a Pembroke Welsh Corgi belonging to sisters Carra and Velvet Cole, both Oak Ridge High School graduates, earned top honors at the recent American Kennel Club/Eukanuba National Championship Dog Show in Orlando, Fla.

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Oakridger - Oak Ridge, TN

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Posted Jan. 3, 2013 at 7:29 PM
Updated Jan 3, 2013 at 7:40 PM

Posted Jan. 3, 2013 at 7:29 PM
Updated Jan 3, 2013 at 7:40 PM

Two Dalmatians and a Pembroke Welsh Corgi belonging to sisters Carra and Velvet Cole, both Oak Ridge High School graduates, earned top honors at the recent American Kennel Club/Eukanuba National Championship Dog Show in Orlando, Fla.

The story of the Oak Ridge sisters and their prize-winning canines was recently profiled in The Oak Ridger prior to the dog show.

Carra Cole owns the Corgi called A.T., although the dog's formal name is Oakwind's Summer Camp. Velvet Cole owns the two Dalmatian littermates, Coachside Spectacular Bid of Tuckaway and Coachside Winning Colors of Tuckaway, more familiarly known as Sidney and Belle, respectively.

Sidney and Belle both earned their AKC championship with 16 points and three majors from the Bred-By-Exhibitor classes in 2012, receiving special recognition as Bred-By-Exhibitor Honor Roll Champions. There were 35 Dalmatians entered for the National Championship Best of Breed competition.

Velvet showed Sidney, while Belle was shown by Miguel De Armas of Atlanta, a former junior handler now apprenticing under professional handlers and a student at Georgia Tech Velvet could not show both of her Dalmatians in the Best of Breed competition since they are both in the ring at the same time.

Sidney and Belle both showed well, but did not place in Best of Breed. Sidney was considered for the cut for Best of Breed. In Grand Championship points ranking for the state of Tennessee, Sidney is ranked third and Belle is ranked fourth. Velvet is a member of the Oak Ridge Kennel Club, the Dalmatian Club of America, and the Dalmatian Club of Greater Atlanta.

A.T. the Corgi will receive special recognition for 2013 as Grand Champion Honor Roll. There were 28 Pembroke Welsh Corgis entered for the National Championship Best of Breed competition. A.T. was shown by Carra. A.T. — who is now 11 and 1/2 years old — showed well, but did not place in Best of Breed.

Carra showed A.T. at the three-day cluster dog show leading into to the AKC/Eukanuba National Championship Dog Show. A.T. was Select Dog at the Space Coast Kennel Club of Palm Bay over three other champion dogs, which were under age 5 with a total of 16 Pembroke Welsh Corgis entered. This is considered a testament to the quality of breeding of A.T. to still be competitive, sound, and able to move defeating dogs that are less than half his age, according to information from the sisters.

In Grand Championship points ranking for Tennessee, A.T. is ranked sixth. Carra is a member of the Nashville Kennel Club, and member and Trophy Chairman of the Ohio Valley Pembroke Welsh Corgi Club.

The competition will air on the ABC-TV on Feb. 2. The Best of Breed, Group Competitions, and Best in Show video is viewable at www.dogchannel.com/ and www.dogchannel.com/dog-news/2012/10/18/akc-eukanuba-championship.aspx as well the World Challenge. The Best in Show was awarded to a Wire Fox Terrier Grand Champion Afterall Painting the Sky known as "Sky" and $50,000 in prize money.

Page 2 of 2 - The American Kennel Club/Eukanuba National Championship Dog Show is considered one of the most prestigious dog shows in the country with the best in the sport of competition with purebred dogs. Carra and Velvet both attended the Pink Carpet Gala before the group competitions, which was hosted by Eukanuba.